Donn Thomas Spinosa, the Aloha man who has spent the past 15 years in Oregon State Hospital facilities, will remain there for at least another six months after a Multnomah County judge declared him a danger to society.

Spinosa, 58, who suffers from schizophrenia, appeared Thursday before Judge Connie Isgro in a small room at Oregon State Hospital's Portland campus.

"We're going to be repeating this every six months," Isgro said of the hearing. She issued a ruling citing "clear, convincing evidence" that Spinosa's mental illness poses a danger to others.

Last month, a Washington County Circuit Court order to keep Spinosa at the state facility indefinitely was vacated after the hospital filed for its dismissal.

Spinosa has been arraigned and charged twice in the 1997 death of Kathleen Relay, his ex-wife. Both times he was declared mentally unfit to stand trial. Spinosa allegedly stabbed Relay 20 to 40 times. His bloody shirt was found at the crime scene.

The four-hour civil commitment hearing was punctuated by frequent outbursts from Spinosa, who interrupted his court-appointed counsel, the state assistant attorney general, Isgro and state witnesses.

Spinosa, although not restrained, had two large hospital security staffers seated behind him. He fidgeted in his chair throughout the proceeding, occasionally stood up, and hummed and sang songs to himself.

Jeff Loudon, Relay's fiancee at the time of the murder, attended the hearing and saw Spinosa for the first time in 15 years. Midway through clinical psychologist Dr. Stephen James' testimony, Spinosa spotted Loudon and blurted out, "Are you Jeff Loudon? I thought I recognized you."

Loudon said that moment put a shiver up his spine, and he was "horrified" but tried to not let Spinosa see his reaction. "I had a feeling he would say something," Loudon said.

Thursday's hearing was the latest effort to evaluate Spinosa's mental fitness. His social worker, Sarah Cox, testified he had no income or family members to live with. At a recent intake appointment at a Washington County mental health facility, Spinosa told officials he planned to cut off his mother's head.

Harris Matarazzo, the lawyer from the office of public defense representing Spinosa, said that comment and other threats were examples of Spinosa sabotaging his chances at release and pointed out his client never acted on those statements.

Matarazzo argued his client's symptomatic schizophrenic episodes while at the state facility were a reaction to being "institutionalized" for 15 years and cited testimony from Spinosa's prior doctor that Spinosa would be able to succeed on his own in a secure residential facility.

James, a clinical psychologist at the state hospital, evaluated Spinosa earlier this year. He testified that Spinosa posed a high risk to the public based on his criminal past, substance abuse, frequent refusal to take psychotropic medicine and his insistence that he didn't suffer from a mental illness.

He said Spinosa's behavior during two interview sessions was "very delusional, very disorganized" and said Spinosa responded to "unseen others."

James said Spinosa's condition appears to have deteriorated since he performed the assessment in late March.

Maria Coloma, the state assistant attorney general, called Spinosa to testify. During that period, Spinosa said he planned to make money once released from custody by gambling. He said he was good at gambling, saying he made $13,000 in one sitting "about a month or so before the murder."

During closing statements, Matarazzo highlighted a point all parties agree on: "It would be in everyone's best interest if my client was adjudicated," he said.

Isgro expressed support for exploring a guardianship program to help Spinosa address his mental health needs in the future. Cox, the state hospital social worker, agreed. Isgro said she'd prefer that to putting all parties through another, as she termed it, painful proceeding.

Isgro said after hearing "reliable, credible and helpful testimony" from two clinical psychologists and a psychiatric social worker, Spinosa continued to pose a danger to others and is "unable to control himself."

Spinosa's mental fitness will be reevaluated in mid-November.

Washington County District Attorney Bob Hermann attended the hearing and said the unique case continues to keep his attention. He's been involved since Spinosa's arrest in 1997. He said the prolonged and periodic hearings are not ideal but allows him to "keep an eye on his progress" should a criminal case ever proceed.

There is no statute of limitations on murder cases, and Spinosa eventually could be tried for Relay's murder.

While not happy with the prolonged nature of the case, Loudon said at least Spinosa wasn't released.